It’s hard to believe PACD has been in the new building for a year! Our mail forwarding order with USPS is expiring soon. Please make sure you have the PACD address updated in your system: 5925 Stevenson Avenue, Suite A, Harrisburg, PA 17112.

Potter County Conservation District (PCCD) brought together local producers this summer to demonstrate how rotational grazing can benefit their farm both financially and environmentally. First, the district selected a farm to use rotational grazing equipment to demonstrate the benefits of rotational grazing management.

PCCD then partnered with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Penn State Extension to develop a grazing plan for the selected farm. They took representative soil samples to test the biological activity of continuously grazed and rotationally grazed pastures with the same soil type. This information was presented during the field day.

Essential supplies for a grazing kit were purchased, including temporary fence, reels, posts, and automatic gate (Batt-Latch). The kit was given to the selected beef farmer in early July to install. On August 28, 2019, a field day was held at the farm to showcase the project and to discuss the benefits and challenges of rotational grazing.

In the future, another farmer that has an interest in this management style will be selected to use the grazing kit.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

On October 4, 2019, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Cambria County for the district’s legislative breakfast. Approximately 50 people attended the event. During the breakfast, the district highlighted stream restoration and flood control projects.

Click here to read an article on the event. 

Funding available to offset costs associated with strategic planning activity has been increased to $1,500 per qualifying district for 2020. Districts interested in applying for a Strategic Planning Grant have until November 20 to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program. The LOI should include information on the timeframe and process for plan development, as well as the date of board approval for the grant application.

Detailed information on the Strategic Planning Grants program, including program requirements and a list of recent facilitators, can be found at the Building for Tomorrow website. 

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Earlier this month, the Building for Tomorrow Program, which provides leadership development training and resources to Pennsylvania’s conservation districts, announced the launch of its newly redesigned website at https://www.paleadership.org.

The new training modules page features an easy-to-navigate interface and a quiz function that allows users to save their progress. It’s an excellent tool for conservation district managers to use to onboard new staff and orient newly-appointed directors.

All conservation district personnel are encouraged to visit the new site and provide feedback and suggestions on content that can be added to support leadership development initiatives.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Over 80 attendees, including 66 watershed specialists, participated in the 19th Annual Conservation District Watershed Specialist Meeting at Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center in State College, PA, October 2-4, 2019.

Sessions included new tools for planting riparian buffers, grants and resources, and updates on Growing Greener. Thursday morning there was a concurrent track for new watershed specialists. The last day was reserved for a watershed restoration and riparian buffer tour. The tour was hosted by the ClearWater Conservancy and the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center with help from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife Program, the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, landowners Stan and Dar Smith, and Native Creations.

Each year, the watershed specialists hold a photo contest. This year, there were over 40 entries (the highest ever)!

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

On September 30, 2019, PACD Conservation Engineer Danielle Kalp, PE, moved from the Somerset office to the Clarion office. Her new phone number is 814-297-5261.

Danielle joins Conservation Technician Randi Tyler in Clarion.

Click here for more information on the Engineering Assistance Program. 

On September 26, 2019, PACD Software Specialist Nick Yeagy traveled to Cumberland County for the celebration of 20,000 acres of preserved farmland.

He joined Cumberland County officials and farmland preservation staff for a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the county’s participation in Pennsylvania’s state farmland preservation program, held at Paulus Farm Market in Mechanicsburg. The Paulus family has preserved 219 acres of farmland, which grows much of the produce sold at their market, since the establishment of the county program in 1989.

Click here to read the entire press release. 

On Monday, September 23, 2019, the Berks County Conservation District (BCCD) hosted the annual “A Bite of Berks Scholarship Fundraiser.”

Here are a few of the highlights from the evening:

• Deputy Greg Hostetter joined the event and said a few words.
• The district awarded $20,500 in scholarships; partners gave an additional $2,500 in scholarships; there was a special award for the Berks Science Fair winner.
• Several award recipients were recognized, including Farmer of the Year, Conservation Individual of the Year, and others.
• After the scholarship and awards portion of the evening was complete, guests enjoyed food samples made by local restaurants, caterers, bakeries, food trucks, and others who used an ingredient that was grown or produced in Berks County. Guests tasted and then voted for their favorite. Awards were given to the top 3 in each of 4 categories.
• There was a Silent Auction with proceeds benefiting the BCCD Scholarship fund.
• Dave Kline’s Mountain folk Trio provided music.

Click here view the winners. Click here to read about the scholarship winners. 

The Building for Tomorrow Program, which provides leadership development training and resources to Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts, is happy to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website at https://www.paleadership.org. 

The new site features: 

• a bright, modern design optimized for handheld and tablet devices
• an event portal and calendar that includes event registration, agendas, and other information, as well as session materials and handouts for Building for Tomorrow events
• a streamlined interface for self-directed learning modules with quiz functionality allowing users to save their progress – perfect for new Director orientation and on-boarding of new staff
• a blog to promote Building for Tomorrow programs, events, and other news and announcements 

All Conservation District personnel are encouraged to visit the new site and provide feedback and suggestions on content that can be added to support leadership development initiatives.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission.  Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.